Results 15,941-15,960 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Amnesty International Report 2005 documents the human rights situation in 149 countries around the world. The report was launched last week and is currently being studied in my Department. It provides a very useful overview of the human rights situation around the globe. The Government shares Amnesty International's concern for the effective promotion and protection of human rights...

Written Answers — International Boundaries: International Boundaries (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Article 77 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 provides that a coastal state exercises over its continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting its natural resources. It exercises these rights out to a maximum distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, or further if the...

Written Answers — Senate Committee Hearings: Senate Committee Hearings (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the hearings in the United States Senate, and of allegations made concerning misuse of Iraqi oil resources both under the former Iraqi regime, and in the early months of the occupation of Iraq after March 2003. It is not clear yet if these hearings will result in any findings, or to what extent the allegations made will be substantiated. It would clearly be a matter of serious...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers, and share her concerns about the plight of the people affected. My Department has actively raised these concerns with the Israeli authorities, and will continue to do so as the situation warrants it.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has consistently condemned the lack of progress towards democracy in Burma and the continuing abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in that country. Together with our EU partners, we remain acutely aware of, and gravely concerned about, the continuing house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other opposition activists and a number of MPs elected in 1990. Aung San Suu Kyi,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 73, 79 and 80 together. Following the elections on 30 January, and lengthy negotiations between the parties, the new transitional Iraqi Government under Mr. Al-Jafaari was formed at the beginning of May. It includes representatives of all the major groups in the Assembly. It also includes six Sunni Ministers, despite the under-representation of the Sunni...

Written Answers — International Boundaries: International Boundaries (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of Rockall has in the past been a source of legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy was due to fears at the time that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and skerries would be a crucial factor in establishing rights over mineral and other resources in the adjacent seabed and to fishing rights in the surrounding seas....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 5 March Syria began to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, as required under Security Council Resolution 1559, and the process appeared to be complete by the end of April, in keeping with the commitment given by President Assad. On 23 May, the initial report of the UN verification mission indicated that the mission had encountered no Syrian forces still in Lebanon. There were some areas...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is fully committed to the active promotion of full observance of universal human rights standards, and opposes, and seeks the elimination of, the practice of human trafficking. The importance of addressing trafficking in persons has been recognised by Ireland and our EU partners. Article 5 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits trafficking in human beings. In 2004...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be characterised by slow progress towards completion of the transition process. The major priority remains the holding of national elections by no later than June 2006, as scheduled under the 2002 Sun City peace accords. It now appears likely that a decision will be taken by the transitional national Government in...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: While Liberia has made remarkable progress since the comprehensive peace agreement of August 2003, it still faces the major challenges of a successful return to democracy and sustaining the peace process. Parliamentary and presidential elections are due to be held on 11 October 2005. This election will mark the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war. The...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. The Government played a prominent role in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara dispute during its term on the UN Security Council. Security Council resolution 1495 of July 2003 recommended the acceptance by all sides of the "Baker II plan". This plan was drawn up by Mr. James Baker during his...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Both Romania and Bulgaria are due to accede to the Union on 1 January 2007, if they are ready. The Treaty of Accession with both countries was signed last month and since then they have become active observers at nearly all EU meetings. Bulgaria ratified the treaty on 11 May and Romania is expected to ratify within the next few weeks. In order for the treaty to come into effect, as envisaged,...

Written Answers — Task Force on Emigrants: Task Force on Emigrants (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The task force on policy regarding emigrants produced an excellent report which provides us with a very valuable framework for action. Its varied and wide-ranging recommendations are best implemented on a phased basis. Many of the recommendations relate to issues of continuing importance which require ongoing action from all partners, in Government and the voluntary sector, at home and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation of the Bhutanese refugees has its origins in the policies of the Government of Bhutan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which resulted in the expulsion of tens of thousands of people from the south of the country to Nepal. These refugees are of Nepalese descent and Hindu, unlike the northern Bhutanese who are predominantly Buddhist. Many of the refugees were forced to sign...

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The UN Secretary General has put forward a wide-ranging set of proposals for UN reform which it is hoped will be adopted at a summit level meeting to take place in New York in September. A small number of reforms will require amendment of the UN Charter. The most significant of these is the proposed expansion of the Security Council. Article 108 of the charter states that an amendment to the...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish Emigrants: Undocumented Irish Emigrants (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Real ID Act was passed unanimously by the US Senate on 10 May 2005 and was signed into law by President Bush the following day. Among its provisions, the Real ID Act establishes minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identity cards in order that they be eligible for use as federal identification. People applying for, or seeking renewal of, driver's licenses and official...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The term "battlegroups" is a widely used military one. It essentially refers to effective military units that are capable of stand-alone rapid response operations. Unfortunately, the use of the term can create a misleading impression of what the European Union is actually seeking to achieve in facilitating the establishment of stand-alone units to respond in crisis management contexts. I...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The amendment to Bunreacht na hÉireann, approved by the people in October 2002 at the initiation of the Government, precludes Ireland from participating in a common defence. It is the Government's intention that this prohibition be carried over in the context of the ratification of the European constitution.

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The European Union is a strong advocate of the UN Secretary General's reform agenda and has placed its weight behind efforts to secure agreement at the September summit on a positive and balanced package of measures that would restore momentum to the achievement of the millennium development goals, MDGs, and enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations. Support for effective...